The first leg at the BayArena ended 1-1 — and now the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie heads to North London for its decisive second act. Arsenal, chasing a potential historic quadruple, bring Bayer Leverkusen to the Emirates having picked up a valuable away goal. The Gunners are favourites to progress — but Leverkusen’s resilience demands respect.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal Match at a Glance — Second Leg
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen |
| Competition | UCL Round of 16 — 2nd Leg |
| First Leg Result | Bayer Leverkusen 1–1 Arsenal |
| Venue | Emirates Stadium, London |
| Arsenal Manager | Mikel Arteta |
| Leverkusen Manager | Kasper Hjulmand |
| Aggregate | Tied 1–1 |
| Kick-off | 8:00 PM GMT / 21:00 CET |
| TV (UK) | TNT Sports |
| TV (US) | Paramount+ / CBS Sports |
Form & First Leg Review
Arsenal completed the Champions League league phase with a perfect record of eight victories, scoring 23 goals and conceding just four — the first club to achieve perfection under the tournament’s new format.
The Gunners were the only team not to trail for a single minute in the league phase. They’ve also conceded the fewest goals (four) and surrendered the lowest xGA (6.17) across the competition. Electronic Arts
The first leg was a typical cautious European affair — both teams unwilling to take risks, ensuring they had a chance in the second match. The 1-1 draw keeps the tie perfectly balanced ahead of the return at the Emirates. U7BUY
Key Tactical Battlegrounds
Álex Grimaldo remains Leverkusen’s standout creative threat — a remarkable 43% of Leverkusen’s Champions League chances have come down the left, with Grimaldo alone creating 23 chances, 12 more than any team-mate.
Arsenal’s press can be suffocating, and they will seek to exploit Leverkusen’s sloppiness in build-up — the German side have conceded the most shots from high turnovers (26) in this season’s Champions League. Electronic Arts
Expected Lineups
Arsenal: Raya; Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Timber, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyökeres
Bayer Leverkusen: Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Poku, Palacios, García, Grimaldo; Terrier, Maza; Kofane
Our Prediction
Arsenal’s home fortress, superior firepower, and the pressure of chasing history makes them heavy favourites to progress. Our prediction model gives Arsenal a 49.51% chance of winning the match outright iGV, and with the backing of the Emirates crowd, the Gunners should find a way through.
Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 Bayer Leverkusen (Arsenal progress 3–1 on aggregate)
For more Champions League previews, lineups, and football coverage, visit Technosports’ football section and our latest Champions League news. For official updates visit UEFA.com.
